Starter mechanism.



W. MORRISON.

STARTER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION mm Pin. 14. "I6.

1,261,593. Patented Apr. 2,1918.

ll] HLIIHIHI GJVSBNGINE' ble rotor PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MORRISON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STARTER MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

Application filed February 14, 1918. Berial No. 78,288.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Moanrsox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented cxartain new anduseful Improvements in Starter"Mechan1sm, of which the followin 'is a specification.

My invention ates to a starting mechanism for internal combustion engmes on automobiles and is an'improvement on or addition to the arrangements shown in my Patents 1120059, 1126060 and 1126061 p'atented January 26, 1915; and is adapted for use in connection with the system shown in my Ratent 1148788 patented August 3, 1915. In these patents I have shown a doudynamo electric clutch which acts both as a current-generatin clutch and an engine starting motor, and 1s invention relates tothis latter use. Its ob ect lstoprovide a device which shall hold against rotation the rotor connected to the load, and to operate said holding device automatically from the switch or 0 er mechanism which causes current to flow from the'battery to the dynamo to operate it as an engine motor so that the holdin 'device shall operate be ore themotor star or simultaneously therewith. There is thus prevented the backing of the automobile, which may happen when. the operator forgets to apply the rakes to his machine before startin t e engine. The invention is also 'applicab e where the second rotor of the dynamo is connected to a rotatable member other than one directly connected to the load. I

The invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagram and Fig. 2 an elevation of the holding mechanism; and Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, A 18 a gas engine, B is the en ine shaft secured to one of the retors of t e dynamo; in this case it is shown as connected to the armature O; D is an mternal commutator ring against which bear spring-pressed brushes E, carried in brush holders F, secured to the field magnet rotor G which is secured to thepower shaft H, or other rotatable member. Current 13 delivered to the motor from a battery, L, through wires, 1, and, 2, connected by brushes to rings, I, and, K, on shaft H. In this circuit is a switch M. Mounted on the shaft, H, is a ratchet wheel N, with which engages a pivoted pawl, (5, which is pivoted to .rungement, which may readily e a plunger, P, having at its lower end an armature, Q.

e magnet comprises an outer shell R, and an inner core S. T is the coil to which are connected wires 3, and 4. U is a spring for normally holding the armature in retracted position. The magnet and the pivot for the pawl are secured to the frame of the automobile.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description, and 1s as follows:

When the switch M is closed, current flows from battery L, through wire 3 to coil T, wire 4, and back to the battery. Thereupon the armature Q, is-pulled up and causes the pawl, O to engagf the teeth of the ratchet wheel, N, and lock any tendency to rotate in the wron direction. As the ratchet-wheel, N, is net "on shaft this shaft and the dynamo field carried thereby are also blocked a ainst rotation. Theclosmg of switch, also delivers ,current ugh wires, 1, and, 2, to.the. dynamo which thereupon operates as a motor and starts the engine. After e 'e is rimning, the switch M is o ened. hemagnet T is thereby deiinergiz and the spring U raises the pawl from its engagement with ratchet N.- The proper circuit connections for operating the dynamo as an electromagnetic clutch are my patents above referred to.

The electrical conditions of the circuits are so arranged that theholding device is operated before, or simultaneously with, the starting of the motor, so that there is no possibility of rotating backwardl the loadshaft H, which if permitted woufd back the automobile.

I have shown the form of holding mechanism which I am using in practice, and which has been found to be entirely satisfactory, but obviously other holding means might be used. Sq also, I have shown a, simple diagrammatic switch and circuit arbe varied by those skilled in the art, whi still obtaining the desired result, which is,--to absolutely prevent by automatic means, any danger of backing the auomobile when studio the engine. There is no possibility of t e operator, as in a garage or crowded street traflic, backin his car by for etting to apply his brakes orvstarting t e angme.

then made, as described in.

2. In an engine-starting mechanism, an internal combustion engine, a double rotor dynamo having one rotor connected to the engine and the other to a rotatable member, a. battery in circuit with said dynamo, electromagnetically operated means for holding against rotation the rotor connected to the rotatable member, a circuit connecting the battery and the clectromagnet, and switching mechanism arranged to automatically cause operation of the holding mechanism not later than the starting of the dynamo.

3. In an engine-starting, mechanism, an' internal combustion engine, a double rotor dynamo having one rotor connected to the engine an'dthe other to a rotatable member, electromagnetically operated means for holding against rotation the rotor connected to the rotatable member a battery in electrical connection with the dynamo and the electro-magnet, and a switch for controllin said electrical connection whereby the ho ding mechanism will be automatically operate not later than the starting of thedynamo.

4. In an engine-starting mechanism, an internal. combustion ehgine,.a double rotor dynamo having one rotor connected to the engine and the other to a rotatable member, a battery incircuit with the dynamo, mechanism forholding against rotation the rotor connected to the rotatable member, a switch in the dynamo circuit and means cotirdinated with said switch to automatically operate the holding mechanism.

5. In an engine-starting mechanism, an internal combustion engine, a double rotor dynamo having one rotor connected to the .engine and the other to a rotatable member, a battery in circuit with said dynamo, electromagnctically operatedmeans for holding against rotation the rotor connected to the rotatable member, and switching mechanism controlling the circuit of said battery and dynamo and of said holding means.

6. In an engine-starting mechanism, an internal combustion engine, a double rotor dynamo, having one rotor connected to the engine and the other to a rotatable member, electromagnetically operated 'means for holding against rotation the rotor connected to the rotatable member, a battery in electrical connection with the dynamo and the holding means, and a switch for controlling said electrical connection.

7. In a system of propulsion, the combination of an internal combustion engine, a dynamo electric machine, one member of which is connected to the engine and the other to the load, an external source of current supply, means acting in response to current flow for preventing the member connected to the load from turnin during the starting operation, and means a' apted to admit current from the source to said means to prevent the member which is connected to the load from turning, and to admit current tosaid members to permit the reactive efiect between them to rotate the engine shaft for starting, purposes. a

8 In'anengine-s tarting mechanism, an internal combustidn en e, avd famo electric mabhfind one mem rot w ich is conncctedjtojth'eengine, and the other to a rotatnbleinehiber', an external source of current supply in circuit with the dynamo, mechanism for holding'agaii'ist rotation the rotor connected to the 'rotsitable member, means for controiling the dynamo circuit, and means coordinated with said controlling means to automatically operate the holding mechanism. I

9. In an engine-starting mechanism, an internal combustion engine, a double rotor dynamo having one rotor connected to-the engine shaft and the other to a rotatable member, a ratchet wheel on the rotatable member, a awl, an electromagnet connected to the pauil to cause engagement with the ratchet Whee'l, a spring for disengaging the pawl, and an external source of current in circuit with the dynamo and electromagnet.

10. In 'an engine-starting mechanism, an internal combustion engine, a (1 name electric machine, one member of w ich is connected to the engine and the other to a rota table member, an external source of current supply, means for holding against rotation the member of the dynamo electric machine connected to the rotatable member, a starting switch, and means foninsuring the operation of said holding means when the engine is started. V

In testimony whereof I afiix m si ature,

WILLIAM MO R SON.

00pm Offllll potent my be obtained for 1" cent! each, by droning the "commissioner of intent.

Wuliinitoi, D. 0. 

